Tuesdays with Niki: Hello Grace!

Yes, the Tuesdays with Niki saga continues. I’m sure by now you’ve realised that it’s not going to be a weekly affair but I try to make it happen as much as possible. My dinner with Grace was scheduled for a Tuesday a couple of months ago but one of us couldn’t make it, and it never happened.

Until this week that is.

We hadn’t planned on where to meet but on Tuesday afternoon, Grace sent me a message via Watsapp saying that our mutual friends Sharyn and Mark were heading to No Black Tie that night for Azmyl Yunor’s CD album launch and wondered if I wanted to check it out. I had no other plans besides meeting her so I was game. And thus, we decided on dinner at Palate Palatte (21 Jalan Mesui, 50200 Kuala Lumpur | 03-2142-2148).

I have been there only once for a meal (another time was when Joyce invited me for Cat Got Your Tongue a while back). I can’t remember what I had to eat the last time, but what I do remember is how cosy the place was. Upstairs when CGYT happened, it was extremely cosy and fun – sofas, cusions and all – but even downstairs, with tables and chairs ala restaurant style, it was still very nice.

The thing that catches my eye every time I get there is the beautiful staircase. I don’t know if its because you don’t find many spiral stairs these days, or the colours that go with it, but I really, really like it I also like the mural on the wall and ceiling. I’m not sure what it is, but I really like it. Yes, I know the last couple of sentences doesn’t explain much so, umm, I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

I had a nice glass of Chardonnay while waiting for Grace to show up, and ordered some deep fried calamari (I love them!) so that we would have something to much on while waiting for our meals. I didn’t remember how long it took for meals to be ready (it wasn’t so bad), so I wanted to be on the safe side. After all, I was starving. Eventually, I ordered the Japanese Chicken Curry (which comes with toasted bread) and I really enjoyed it. I wasn’t sure what it would be like but took the risk and it paid off. It wasn’t too milky, not too spicy. It was very fragrant as well. I only wish there was a bit more meat in it (or maybe just my serving had a lot of the less meaty parts of the chicken). The potatoes in the curry were just nice, and that’s really how I judge a good curry.

Anyway, the night isn’t about the food or the place but my friend Grace. We’ve not had a chance to catch up in a while. We met about a year and a half ago when we were both acting in A Christmas Carol which was staged at KLpac in 2008. Since then, we’ve caught up a few times but she’s too busy looking gorgeous on the television (she’s a newscaster now on NTV7). It was great catching up, Grace, if you’re reading this!

Here’s a picture of you with Sharyn!

p/s Sorry Azmyl. We left early. It was Grace’s fault. She had to go throw a frisbee or something.

Niki Cheong is blogging

Niki is a writer, lecturer and speaker on journalism, social media and digital culture. He has written for The Star, Esquire, Going Places and NewMan, among other publications. His commentary on social media has seen him being featured on the BBC, Al Jazeera, MTV Asia, NTV7 and Astro Awani. You can tweet him or connect with him on Facebook.